Furnace for burning hydrocarbon fuel



(N0 Modl.) 3 shets sheet 1.

J. BULLARD; FURNACE FOR BURNING HYDROOARBON FUEL. No. 365,789. Patented July 5, 188'].v

(No Model.) .3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. H. BULLARD. FURNACE FOR BURNING HYDROGARBON FUEL. No. 365,789. Patented July 5, 1887-.

N. PETERS. Phclvlilhvgraphcr. Washillgiom B. C.

3 She'ets-- Sh'eet 3.

ig U gig) Patented Jul 5, 1887 E; j L

J. H. BULLARD. FURNACE FOR BURNING HYDROGARBON FUEL.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT rrIcE.

JAMES H. BULLARD, OF SPRI NGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

FURNACE FOR BURNING HYDROCARBON FUEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,789, dated July 5, 1887.

Original application filed September 30, 1886, Serial No. 213,971. Divided and this application filed Octoberll, 1886. Serial To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES H. BULLARD, a citizen of the United States, residing atSpringfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in I-Iydrocarbon-Fnrnaces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in furnaces for burning hydrocarbon fuels, and steam-generators therefor; and the invention consists in the peculiar construction and an rangementof the fuel-tank, furnace,and boiler, and means for injecting and atornizing fuel in said furnace and automatically regulating the supply thereof, all as hereinafter fully described, and set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the steam-boiler and a portion of the fire-box inclosing the same, together with a steam air-pump and regulating devices 0011- nectcd with the boiler and a liquid-fuel tank, above which the latter is located. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of one leg of the boiler, several pipes connected therewith,ahol- J low bed-plate for the same, and portions of watcrsupplypipes connected therewith. Fig. 3isaperspective view of one corner of the firebox and ofthe fuel-tank,showing certai ndetails of construction, hereinafter described. Fig. 4

is a perspective View of the liquid-fuel tank,

the bed-plate of the boiler connected therewith ,and the fuel-ejectors attached to the tank, the latter showing, through a broken portion of the side thereof, certain details of construc tion hereinafter described. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of a portion of the fuel-tank, of the boiler bedplate and air-induction pipe, and of one of thefuel ejectors and atomizer-s. Fig. 6 is a side elevation, in section, of the fueltank and the boiler bed-plate. Fig. 7 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the fuel-tank and boiler. bed-plate, illustrating the connection with the latter of a lamp for igniting the atomized liquid fuel. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 illustrate details of construction hereinafter described.

Ametallic orother suitable furnace fire-box, 11, is provided, in which the boiler 26 is located, as shown in Fig. 1. The sides of said fire-box are perforated to admit air for the (No model.)

ends of the liquid-fuel tank 13, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and they are arranged to inject fuel into one or both ends of the fire-box, as

may be desired, through suitable openings in the walls thereof.

Fig. 1 illustrates in perspective view the stcamgenerating boiler 26 and other co-operating -devices directly connected therewith, hereinafter described. Said boiler consists of a hollow head,.. 27, of suitable metallic construction, into each side of which are secured a series of tubes, 28, by one end, their opposite ends being hermetically closed. Said head 27 is made inthe form shown in Fig. 1, and said pipes are attached thereto in such man ner as to form on the upper side of the boiler groups of pipes with but narrow spaces there between, and from thelattcr, extending downward on each side of the boiler, single groups of pipes, as shown, the latter in effect constituting the sides of thatpart of the boiler in which the heat-generating flame is introduced, a chamber being formed within the (so to speak) tube-walls of the boiler, in which the combustion of the atomized liquid fuel takes place, as below described, the peculiar construction of the boiler beingparticularly favorable to the admission among all its tubes of said flame, whereby steam is generated therein almost instantaneously and with the expenditure of but little fuel.

The bed-plate 30 of the boiler may. consist of a metallic shell, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, having an interior filling of asbestus, 31; or said bed-plate may be made in the form of a hollow metallic shell, as shown in Fig. 2, eommunicating with the hollow head 27 of the boiler, and whcninade hollow, as just described, the feed-water pipes 32 and 33 are connected therewith, as shown in- Fig. 2,

thereby aiding in raising the temperature of the feed-water in its passage to the boiler.

In order to cause the atomized liquid fuel to be forced directly from the tank containing it into the said chamber within the tube-walls of the boiler above referred to, the liquidfuel tank is located directly under the boiler, as shown in'Fig.1; and in order to protect the contents of said tank from the heat of the flame within the furnace, the bed-plate is interposed between the boiler and said tank, and when made as above described, by'filling a metallic shell with asbestus orother nonconducting substance-as lamp-black, for in stance''and supported somewhat separated from the top of the tank 13, as shown in the drawings, whereby an air-space is formed between the bed and the tank,it is found in practice that the contents of the latter remain quite cool when heat is applied to the boiler, and practically'the same result is obtained when cold feed-water is passed through a hollow bed-plate, such as is shown in Fig. 2. The bed-plate 3O lies on the upper ends of a series of metallic tubes, which pass up through the tank 13 and project above its upper side,

' as shown, and bolts 34 pass through the bedplate and through said tubes, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6, and aresecured therein by nuts under the tank, as there shown.

. As means for suitably securing the boiler within the furnace 11, and for attaching the tank and the bed-plate securely to the under side of the furnace and boiler, several iron straps,35,are bolted to the sides of the furnace, as shown in Fig. 3, and have their lower ends bent inward and extending under the bedplate, thereby forming a hook-engagement with the latter.

30, and passing through a wall of the oppo-- site end of the tank, the said pipe being perforated, as shown in saidfigures, to distribute the air in the end of the tank at which it enters as well as through its open end in the opposite end of the tank.

The liquid'fuel injectors and atomizers 12 consist each of an outer bent tube, 37, (see Fig. 5,) having on the outer end thereof a cap, 38, provided with a small central perforation,

which screws onto the end of said tube 37, a

lock-nut, 39, being placed on said tube behind said cap to lock the latter in any desired position on the tube. The tube 37 is secured in the top of the tank 13, preferably by screwing; but it may be secured'thereto in any suitable manner. A tube, 40, of less external diameter than theinterior of tube 37 is placed within the latter, and extends nearly to the bottom of the tank 13 through tube 37, and projects beyondthe outer end thereof, as

shown. By means of said construction of the ejector and atomizer an air-passage is formed between the tubes 37 and 40, which extends from and communicates with the air-space in the tank 13, above the fuel. 41 therein, and

terminates at the outer end of the tube 37 within the cap 38, through which air from the tank is forced, as below described; and the same force which drives the air out of the tank forces the liquid fuel into and through the tube 40, as indicated by arrows in Fig. 5, causing the same to be delivered in a small jet just within the end of. the cap 38 and through said perforation therein, thereby forming an atomized spray of mingled air and liquid fuel, as indicated in Figs.4 and 5. To the end that such a quantity of air as the best conditions for attaining a proper combustion of the atomized fuel may demand may be mixed with the jet offuel which escapes from the end of the tube 40 when it passes through the perforation in the cap 38, the latter is made adjustable toward and from the end of the tube 40 by screwing it on the end of the tube 37, thereby restricting or enlarging the air-passage between the end of tube 40 and p the inner side of that part of the cap which surrounds the perforation therein, through which the fuelis injected. Said lock-nut 39 serves to lock the cap 38 after the latter has been adjusted. By this means just the quantity of air is admitted to and mingled with the atomized liquid. fuel which may be required to produce such perfect combustion as entirely obviates the production of smoke in the furnace. "This adjustment of a cap on a burner is shown in an English Patent.

The fuel-tank 13 is provided with a series of perforated diaphragms, 42,. which serve to prevent any inconvenient movement of the body of liquid fuel 41 from one end of the tank to the other, which might otherwise be caused by the motion of a boat or vehicle when located therein. The tank 13 is supplied with said fuelthrough a suitable capped tube, 43.

Toprovide for the most economical use of tive power may demand; hence it will be seen that at one moment the furnace is filled with an opening through the tank 13,hanging downward below the latter, its wicktube being at tached to a hollow nut, which is screwed into a bushing, 47, in the bedplate, thereby avoiding the communication of heat to the contents of the lamp when any volatile substance is used therein for maintaining alight. To further provide against any danger from the accumulation of inflammable gas in thelamp 4 L, atube, 48, is placed therein, extending from above the contents thereof down through the bottom of the lamp, through which such gas, should any be generated in the lamp, may pass freely off. and detached from the bed by reaching under the latter and screwing or unscrewing the same.

Any desired number ofthe injector and atomizing tubes 12 may be attached to one or to.

each end of the tank 13, three being shown at each end thereof in the drawings, and as there shown in Fig. 6, the holes in the wall of the furnace through which said atomizer-tubes pass are of considerably greater diameter than the said tubes, and said holes are so made to provide for the "forced introduction 'ordraft of a certain amount of air through the holes around the said tubes, caused by-thc aforesaid jet of air and atomized fuel which is forced through the cap 38.

The above-described provision for the introduction of air to the furnace around the atomizer-tubes is found in practice to obviate the necessity of maintaining so high an air-pressure in the tank 13, and thereby less steam is used for driving the air-pu mp. The ejecting ends of the atomizer-tubes may terminate outside of the furnace-walls, opposite the openings therein, without prejudice to the supply of fuel or its perfect combustion. Said Fig.6 shows a vertical section of a portion of the furnace-wall 11 through one of the said injector-tube holes. The feed-pump ofthe boiler is connected with the pipe 32, which runs through the furnace between the said inner tubular walls of the boiler to the front end thereof, and there enters a T-connection with a side branch thereon, from which connection pipes 33 branch off, which are connected with the ends of two of the boiler-tubes 28, as shown in Fig. 1.

To. prevent more water from being pumped into the boiler than will fill it up to a required water-line, a valve-case and float, 58, is connected with the said T-conncetion in the feedwater pipes 32 and 33, in which a valve, 55, connected by a suitable stem, 56, with a float, 57, (see Fig. 8,) is arranged in the aforesaid T- connection. Said valve, valvestcm, and float are contained in said T'connection and in a hollow case, 58, the circular opening 59 in said connection in Fig. 8, indicating the opening at the end of the feed-pipe 32 connected therewith. The central portion of said T -connection is fitted to receive the valve 55 when it is lifted up, and said valve then entirely covers The lamp is easily attached to g the said opening 59, thereby preventing the passage of any water therethrough to the boiler; but to prevent the obstruction of communication between the lower end of the casestem 56 and the boiler through the pipes 33, said opening 59 is formed below or to one side of the center line of the passages through the lateral branches of said T-connection, and thereby provision is made whereby the valve 55 may rise and close said opening 59 without shutting off entirely the passages through said lateral branches.

A pipe, 60, connects thehollow case 58 with one of the higher of the boilertubes, whereby the steam-pressure of the boiler is commnnicated to said case, and by the connection of the lower end of said ease with the feed-water pipe, as aforesaid, water is admitted to said case and rises therein to such height as it may be in the boiler, and consequently when the float 57 and valve 55 are in the positions shown in Fig. 8 the opening 59 is closed and no water can flow from the pump.

A regular or i ntermittentsnpplyofatoinized liquid fuel to the furnace for the purpose of generating steam in the boiler is provided for by the below-described automatically-operating devices, which consist of a steamactuated airpump, a valve located in the steam pipe between the steam-cylinder of the air-pump and the boiler, which allows steam to pass to said cylinder while the pressure in the boiler remainsbelowa certain point,an air-pipe connectingthe air-pump with the liquidfuel tank, and a piston-valve connected between said steampipe and air-pipe, operated by the air-pressure of the fuel-tank to shut off the steam from the steanicylinder of the air-pump and stop the latter when a certain degree of air-pressure is attained in the fueltank. The said air-pump St is of the ordinary construction, having the end of its piston-rod projecting through one head of its cylinder and being adapted to have applied thereto the handle 66, for a purpose below described. The airpump is operated by the piston of the steam-cylinder 67, the piston rod of the latter and that of the air-pump being the same. Thepipe (3S, projecting from one head of the cylinder 67, is the exhaustpipe of the latter, and the pipe 69, attached to the opposite end of the cylinder 67, is the steam-supply therefor, connecting it with the boiler.

The pipe 70.connects the air-pump 64L with the fuel tank 13: A val ve-case, 71, (see Fig. 9,) is connected in the said steampipe 69, the inlet to whieh is at c, and whose outlet is at c. Said valvecase is' provided with a piston, 72, having a valve and spindle, 73, attached thereto, which valve has a seat at cin said case, and a spring, 74, under said piston, capable of resisting the desired working steam-pressure of the boiler, holds the valve 73 off from its seat 0, thereby permitting steam to freely pass to the cylinder 67 until said ste'anrpress ure exceeds said workingpoint, and when it ICC ' jection of more of the latter into the furnace does the piston 72 is thereby moved against spring 74, causing said valve to be shut, thereby cutting off the supply of steam to said cylinder and stopping the air-pump, and consequently the supply of airpressure to the fueltank 13, the result of which is that the ejection of fuel therefrom ceases and the fire in the furnace is extinguished. As soon as the steam-pressure in the boiler becomes reduced below its working-pressure, the said spring 74 lifts the valve 73 off from its seat again, letting steam pass to the cylinder 67, thereby causing the air-pump to resume its action,the result of which is that the furnace is again supplied with atomized fuel, which'is lighted by the flame of the lamp 44, as above described, and the steam-pressure in the boiler is again increased to its required degree. An exhaust-steam pipe, 68, leads from the steamcylinder 67 of the air-pump;

To provide for an economical use of the liquid fuel, or,in other words, to prevent the inthan can be consumed u nder thebest conditions, a comparatively low degree of air-pressure is maintained in the fuel-tank 13, and care is taken that said air-pressure shall be as regular as is practicable. To that end the piston-valve 75 is connected between the steam-pipe 69 and the air-pipe 70, as shown in Figs. 1 and 10, the details of the construction thereof being shown in Fig. 10, wherein 76 is the piston of the valve; 77, the piston-cylinder; 78, the pistonrod having a valve-shaped end, 0,- and 79 is a spring on the piston'rod'between the piston and one end of the case 77 or cylinder. In said Fig. 10, 80 indicates a T-shaped connection in the aforesaid pipe 69, which receives through asuitable stuFfing-box the valve-shaped end of said piston-rod 78, which end is adapted to be moved by excessive air-pressure against the piston-76 in a direction across the steampassage 2 in said T connection 80 and restrict the said passage.

The air-pipe 70,.leading from the air-pump 6; to the fuel-tank 13, is connected with the 'valve-case 77 at each end of the passage it through the latter, a branch passage from said passage 0?. connecting the latter passage with the internal ehamberin the case 77, in which is located the piston 76. When said air-pump commences to operate, the air-pressure on the air-pipe 70 and the fuel tank 13 gradually increases, and to prevent such action of the airpump as will create too much pressure in said tank the resistance of the spring 79 is so regulated that any excess of air-pressure above that required acts against the piston 76, 'giving motion to the latter and -to the rod 78 against the force of the spring 79, thereby causing the end of the rod 78 to be forced partly across the passage 2, through which steam passes to actuate the pump or to such a degree as to reduce and regulate the movement of the latter, thuskeeping the air-pressure in the fuel-tank at the desired point.

When the action of the pump 64 ceases, spring ,best adapted to the advantageous consumption of hydrocarbon fuel for generating steam, both for stationary and marine engines. First, it is indispensable that the boiler be as light as practicable; secondly, that it be capable of generating a working-pressure of steam from cold water in a few moments after lighting the fire, (the time actually required by the boiler herein shown beingnot more than two and one half minutes) and thirdly, that the boiler be practically non-explosive, with a view to absolute safety.

The liquid-fuel tank and the devices connected therewith for forcing by air-pressure said fuel therefrom and atomizing it in the furnace are adapted to the employment of refined petroleum, (the latter being preferable,) naphtha, or alcohol, and the described construction and arrangement of the said air forcing devices, the atomizers having means for regulating the admission of atmospheric air with the jet of fuel, and the described arrangement for the introduction of air to the furnace through openings surrounding the atomizer-pipes all contribute to such a perfect combustion of either of said two hydrocarbons that no smoke whatever results therefrom, and no pipe is required for the furnace either to carry off smoke or to aid combustion.

Another improved feature of the herein-described construction consists in providing a liquid-fuel boiler and furnace with injector and atomizing devices, through which the liquid fuel is forced by a regulated low-air pressure,instead of by steam-injection, thereby obtaining a more regular and economical supply of fuel to the furnace, for in practice the saidairpressure required for properly conveying the I fuel into the furnace and atomizing it is only about one and one-half pound to the square inch, said pressure being so regulated in order that no more fuel be injected into the furnace than can be advantageously consumed.

A further novel feature which is embodied in the construction and operation of the afore said steanrgenerating devices consists in the means by which a given degree of steam-pressure up to any desired working-point is maintained automatically in the boiler for several hours, as hereinafter described.

a The general operation of the furnace, boiler, fuel-tank, injectors, and atomizers, and their above-describedregulatingdevicesisasfollows: Water is supplied to the boiler by any suitable pump. Thelamp uislighted,andtheair-pump is then operated a few strokes by the handle 66 on the end of the piston-rod 65 of said pump, thereby providing such air-pressure in .the

fuel-tank 13 as causes the fuel to be ejected into the furnace and there atomized, as described, where it is at once ignited by the flame of said lamp, the consequence of which is that 1n a few moments a working steam-pressureis generated in the boiler, setting the steam airpump in motion and maintaining the requisite a1r-pressure in the fueltank. As soon, however, as the steampressure at all exceeds its fixed working limitsay seventy-five pounds to the square inch, more or lcssthe said valve 73 in the case 71 is made to shut by said excessive pressure, thereby stopping the airpump by shutting off the steamsupply thereof, and thereby causing the fire in the furnace to be extinguished by reason of the cessation of air-pressure in the fuel-tank. Ina moment or two, however, owing to the absence of said. furnaee'fire, the steam-pressure will decrease, letting said valve 73 open again, and the airpump will be again set in motion, causing the fire in the furnace to be again started and the steam-pressure to be restored to its workingpoint. In this manner thefurnacefire is caused to be lighted and extinguished by a slightvariatlon (say five pounds) of the steam-pressnre from the fixed workingpressure. above described operation constitutes the aforesaid intermittent action of the furnacefire, whereby it is maintained only when actually required for steamgeneratingpurposes, thus effecting an important saving in fuel.

As above set forth, the air-valve in the case 75 serves also to regulate the speed of the airpump according to the air-pressure in the fueltank, preventing said pressure from rising above a certain point, and thereby causing an oversupply of fuel to be injected into the furnace.

WVhen steam is being drawnfrom the boiler to run an'engine, the action of the air-pump is more continuous; but when the engine is not running said intermittent action of the firegoverning devices is frequent, and thereby a workmgpressure is kept up in the boiler as long as any water remains in i 'ljhis application is a division of my applieatlon No. 213,971, filed September 30, 1886, embracing claims for a steam-boiler and other parts of a road-wagon. A further division of the same application was filed November 1, 1886, No. 217,670, relating more especially to the mechanism for feeding liquid fuel and con trolling the air-pressure. I am aware that it is not new to inject oil into a furnace by air-pressure,-air being mixed with the oil just before reaching the place of combustion, and serving to spray the oil.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In combination, a steam-boiler, an aircompressor, a liquid-fuel tank connected to said compressor, a steam-pipe connecting the boiler with said compressor, and a valve, substantially such as described, controlling the passage in said pipe, said valve being operatively connected with the steam-boilenwhereby the rise of steam-pressure in the boiler tends to close said valve and thus cut off steam from the compressor, substantially as described.

2. Means for generating steam by the consumption of liquid or hydrocarbon fuel, consisting of a boiler and its fire-chamber, substantially as described, a power-actuated airpump connected with said boiler by a suitable steampipe, a valve, 73, connected in said steam-pipe to automatically close the steampassage in the latter, a liquid-fuel tank in proximity to said furnace connected with :said

air-pump by a suitable pipe, and a series of fuel injectors and atomizers, substantially as described, attached to said fuelt-ank and injecting liquid fuel into said furnace, substantially as set forth.

3. Means for generating steam by the consumption of liquid fuel, consisting of a watertube, steam-boiler, and inclosing-casing, a liquid-fuel tank below and connected to said casing, said tank having perforated diaphragms therein, as described, a series of fuel injectors o steam-pipe with said boiler, a valve, 73, con- IOO nected in said steam-pipe to automatically close and open the steam-passagein tlielatter, a liquid-fuel tank in proximity to said furnace connected with said pump by a suitable pipe,

through which air is forced to said tank, a 10 valve, substantially as described, connected in the air-pipe between the air-pump and fueltank and actuated by the air-pressure in the latter, having its end entering transversely the passage in said steam-pipe to restrict said pas- 1 IO sage, and a series of injectors and atomizers. substantially as described, attached to said tank and injecting liquid fuel into said furnace, substantially as set forth.

5. Means for generating steam by the con- I15 sumption of liquid or hydrocarbon fuel, consisting of a boiler and a furnace, substantially as described, a power-actuated air'pu mp connected with said boiler, a liquid-fuel tank in proximity to said furnace and connected to said air-pump by a suitable pipe, a valve and connections, substantially as described, whereby the air-pressure is reduced and supply of fuel stopped when the steam-pressure reaches a predetermined maximum, a fuel- 12 lighting lamp supplying a flame within said furnace, and a series of fuel injectors and atomizers, substantially as described, attached to said tank and injecting said fuel through the Walls of said furnace, substantially as set forth.

6. In combination, a furnace and boiler, substantially as described, the fuel-tank 13,located under the boiler, a bed-plate, 30, interposed between the boiler and fuel-tank and having a filling of non-conducting material, and a series of burners having pipes 12 connected to the fuel-tank and passing round the outer edge of the bed-plate 30, so that the latter may serve as a. complete fire shield or screen for the fuel-tank, substantially as described.

7. In combination, a furnace and a boiler, substantially as described, the liquid-fuel tank 13, located under the latter, having a series of injector and atomizing tubes connected therewith to inject liquid fuel into said furnace and having its central portion between its ends of less thickness than the latter, a bed, 30, containing a material which is a non-conductor of heat, interposed between the boiler and fueltank, and a power-actuated air-pump connected with thelatter and with said boiler, suba steam-boiler, ofan air-pump having a steamconnection with the latter, in which steamconnection is a valve which is normally open, butcapable of being closed by an excessive steam-pressure, a liquid-fuel tank in proximity to said boiler, having normally an air-chamber therein above the level of its fluid contents,

an air-pipe connecting said pump and airchamber, a valve connected in said air-pipe and controlled by the air-pressure therein, having connection with the said air-pump steam-pipe to restrict the passage therethrough, and a series of atomizers, substantially as described, attached to said tank, which communicatewith the fluid contents of said tank and with the air-chamber therein, substantiall y as set forth.

- JAMES H. BULLARD. \Vitnesses:

H. A. CHAPIN, H. F. ASHTON. 

